Manila, May 30 -- In his later years, Hernando Gunlao - affectionately known as Tatay Nanie - found a quiet yet powerful way to leave a lasting mark. Trusting the whisper of his heart, he opened a library with no rules and no barriers. He called it Reading Club 2000.

When he was 50 years old, Tatay Nanie began his mission by placing 50 books on a small table along the sidewalk in front of his home in Barangay La Paz, a humble neighborhood just beyond the bustle of highly urbanized Makati City. What started as a modest display quickly became a beacon of learning and generosity.

He welcomed everyone - students, neighbors, even curious passersby - to pick up a book and read. If they wished, they could take a book home permanently with no q...